Propagating a Crepe Myrtle is Easy!

In Falls County, hardwood cuttings can be taken in late Fall or Winter. Soft or semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken in Spring or Summer. And, “babies” that grow around the base of the main tree can be dug up and replanted all year-round or Spring! This is very important: Do not allow cuttings to dry out from the moment they are made.

First, clean the pruning shears. Wipe off dirt and sap with a rag or brush. Sterilize pruning shears using 70% isopropyl alcohol; it requires no dilution and dries quickly. No alcohol? Use a 1:9 bleach-to-water solution and soak the pruning shears for 30 minutes to prevent spreading diseases amongst plants. After using the bleach-water solution, rinse and wipe the blades with oil like WD-40 or machine oil. This protects the metal. Another method is to soak the blades in hydrogen peroxide for five minutes.

In late Fall or Winter, after the leaves have dropped, take a cutting from the main plant the diameter of a pencil, ensuring 3-4 nodes (leaf joints) per cutting. Dip the cutting stem in a rooting hormone and plant in a potting mix or into loose soil in a semi-sunny spot.

Cuttings can be taken from softwood or semi-hardwood trees during the Spring or Summer. The tree is active at this time and cuttings will be from new, green growth that has finished flowering.

Make a hole in the plant medium and insert the cutting. Place at least two nodes below the soil surface and pack gently but firmly the soil around it. Keep cuttings moist and covered with a plastic bag if in a container.

Place the newly potted cutting in a shady or semishady spot, out of direct sun. Keep it consistently moist but not doggy. Roots usually grow in 3-4 weeks.

That’s it! Propagating a Crepe Myrtle is not difficult and the result is another Queen of the South!